Manicure and Pedicure: Types, Health Benefits and Dangers!

Reviewed By: Pramod Kerkar, MD, FFARCSI

"Manicure is advertising; pedicure is a pleasant surprise!" Clean and well maintained hands and legs are for sure a dream job of most of us. Good looking hands and legs surely make a great impression of a well groomed appearance. Today, manicures and pedicures keep a great importance is the cosmetic world because they enhance the appearance of hands and legs in a stunning way. However, it is not just about beauty or appearance, it is also about the health; and the mani-pedi treatments surely help in promoting greater health of your fingers, fingernails, toes and toenails. So, in this current article we will take a look on the most popular types of manicure and pedicure techniques, their benefits and also talk about the health risks or the dangers involved with such manicure and pedicure treatments.

Information on Manicure:

Manicure usually includes a combination of a number of techniques and treatments and the treatment or techniques vary from spa to spa. Generally, manicure may include hand massages, cuticle treatment, exfoliation, drip dry, wax treatment and buffing, grooming of nails with application of nail polish. Various spas have different manicure packages and you need to choose a package that contains what you need for your hands and fingernails. There are also spas which offer different manicure packages for "Men" and "Women" manicure. For the best treat, you need to inform about the unique qualities of your skin while taking the appointment in the spa clinic.

Information on Pedicure:

Just like the manicure, even pedicures vary from spa to spa. There are various spas with their unique packages of pedicure and you need to choose the right one for you. However, generally the pedicure includes an assortment of the treatments like a foot soak, exfoliation, cuticle treatment, foot massage nail trimming and grooming, moisturizing and applying nail polish over the toenails. Pedicures are uniquely designed to eradicate the dead skin from the feet.

Various Types of Manicure and Pedicure:

Now, let us take a look on the various types of manicure and pedicure treatments.

Regular/ Basic Manicure and Pedicure Treatment:

The most basic nail care treatment, soothing and softening of hands and feet by removing dead skin cells and moisturizing hands and feet with brief massaging on hands and legs are included in a regular manicure and pedicure. A regular manicure begins with soaking of your hands in warm soapy water, which aids in soothing and softening the dead skin cells. Your fingernails are then cleansed, clipped, and filed properly. Before applying the moisturizing lotion in your hands, the manicurist massages your hands gently and finally the regular manicure ends up with application of nail polish with a base coat, main coat and a top or the final coat. A regular pedicure begins with soaking of your feet in a warm water tub and then the pedicurist scrubs your feet so as to clear off any dead skin. Then, your toenails are clipped and filed properly. You also get a brief massage on your feet and legs before you are applied with a soothing lotion. Toenails are finally polished with nail polish.

Spa Manicure and Pedicure Treatment:

A more involved and a longer treatment than the regular manicure and pedicure treatment is what is involved in a spa manicure and pedicure treatment. Though the spa manicure and pedicure treatment includes all the processes of a regular treatments of manicure and pedicure; these advanced spa mani-pedi treatments add up an additional treatment like the paraffin wax treatment or glycolic exfoliation treatment. A glycolic exfoliation involves the wonders of glycolic acid in a gel or cream for removing the dead skin cells from hands and feet; while the paraffin wax treatment involves dipping your hands and feet in a solution of warm paraffin wax and then in plastic bags and then in gloves. These special treatments leave the skin of your hands and feet feeling and appearing smooth and clear.

French Manicure and Pedicure Treatment:

French manicure and pedicure type of treatment is absolutely classic and the type of manicure and pedicure you would like to have for the best looking hands, feet and nails. The process is similar to that of a regular manicure and pedicure. Here, the manicurist or the pedicurist applies a polish in a clear white or pale pink over the entire finger nail and toe nail and followed by while nail polish on the tips of the nails. You surely get an enhanced look of natural nails with this French manicure and pedicure technique.

American Manicure and Pedicure Treatment:

This is one more similar type of manicure and pedicure treatment, which resembles the French manicure and pedicure. However, in this case the nail tips are sometimes rounded and are painted more off white colors.

Stone Manicure and Pedicure Treatment:

One more manicure and pedicure treatment is the stone manicure and pedicure. This also involves all the steps and processes as are included in a regular mani-pedi treatment technique. However, here at the end of the treatment in Stone Manicure and Pedicure Treatment, the manicurist or pedicurist places a heated stone on your hands and feet for providing you the best relief from the overworked or stressed hands and feet.

Gel Manicure and Pedicure Treatment:

Gel manicure and pedicure treatment is another manicure and pedicure treatment type which involves a gel polish for applying on the nails that looks similar to a regular nail polish. The Gel technique for manicure and pedicure involves similar processes and steps for mani-pedi treatments; however, a gel polish or a colored gel similar to the regular nail polish is used for applying on the nails with three coats, i.e. a base coat, main coat and a top or final coat. Your nails are exposed to UV light after applying each nail coat so as to dry the gel. This process is known as Curing and lasts for about 30 seconds to 60 seconds. The removal process of the gel from nails can be done at home or salon and includes wrapping of the nails in acetone with the help of a cotton ball soaked in acetone or secured with an aluminum foil. This makes the polish to loosen up and can be peeled off easily.

Health Benefits of Manicure and Pedicure:

Below are some of the most crucial health benefits of manicure and pedicure.

Benefits of Manicure & Pedicure on Skin Health: Our hands are exposed to the outside dust and dirt all throughout the day. They accumulate grime quite easily and also constantly create new skin cells sloughing off the old ones. Considering our feet; walking all day can create callouses and can also cause various other odd skin conditions in the feet. A professional manicure and pedicure helps in exfoliating your skin in hands and feet, helps in bringing a softer and clearer appearance to the hands and feet. Pedicure helps in removing callouses and manicure aids in removing the grime and the dead skin cells. Thus the mani-pedi treatment helps greatly in gifting attractive and grooming hands and feet respectively.

Benefits of Manicure & Pedicure in Clearing Fungal Infections from Nails: Usually the toe nails and sometimes the finger nails are infected with the fungal infection because of the overexposure to moisture. Though such a fungal infection takes around two weeks to show its symptoms for identification, a professional manicure and pedicure treatment will alert you about the infection at an early stage. It is a great idea to have the mani-pedi treatments on regular intervals for maintaining better health of toe and finger nails.

Benefits of Manicure & Pedicure in Improving Blood Flow: Manicure and pedicure treatments include massaging of the skin along with the exfoliation, moisturizing and cuticle treatments. This massage from a professional manicurist or pedicurist aids in providing incredible relaxation and also assist in increasing the blood flow to your extremities. This in turn can help you reduce pain and aid your body distribute the heat during winter months.

Benefits of Manicure & Pedicure on Mental Health: One of the best ways to stay relaxed and remain pampered is a manicure and pedicure treatment. Maybe a stressful day or a hectic week; mani-pedi treatment will leave you with relaxing mind and completely relieve you from the stress and tensions. Imagine the "feel-good" feel of having gorgeous nails and beautifully groomed hands and feet! So, manicure and pedicure also have their benefits to the mental health.

Health Risks or Dangers of Manicure and Pedicure:

It is true that manicure and pedicure offers the best of beauty and health benefits. However, there are certain health risks or dangers involved with the manicure and pedicure treatments, which are listed below.

Dangers of Injury and Infection with Manicure & Pedicure:

There are chances of injuries with manicure and pedicure. Sometimes your cuticles are clipped too quickly and hurt your skin. The most alarming health risk which can occur at a nail salon while manicure or pedicure is the injury that lead to infection. In America about 75% of the salons violate the state protocol for disinfection. There are chances of severe infections and health risks in salons in case the tools used are not properly sterile or autoclaved. Hepatitis B and various other bacterial and fungal infections can be picked up from the nail salons as a number of infected people arrive at the salons for their treatments. Though there are laws to restrict such people from serving in the spa or salons, many professional manicurists and pedicurists do not follow the laws.

Dangers of UV Rays Exposure with Manicure & Pedicure:

Exposure to UV light in a nail salon while manicure or pedicure Gel type treatments, can damage your skin cells and can lead to cancer. It is known that people with fair skins are more at their risks to the UV light exposure that the people with dark skin.

Health Risks of Developing Nail Fungus with Manicure & Pedicure:

Nail fungus are more quickly transmitted from person to person in nail salons. In case you are undergoing your manicure or pedicure treatments in a salon where a previously infected person has been served; there are chances you may grow up with the nail fungus in case you soak your feet in the same foot baths while the treatment.

Necessary Steps to Follow for Avoiding the Dangers of Manicure and Pedicure:

Below are some of the most crucial steps you can follow while visiting a nail salon for manicure and pedicure to prevent the dangers or the health risks.

Make sure you are avoiding the salons which do not have simple foot baths without motor that are easy to clean.

Buy your own nail equipment and carry them while you visit a nail salon for manicure or pedicure treatments.

In case you do not carry your equipment, ask the nail technician to use sterilized equipment for keeping safe from infection.

Be sure not to shave your legs or hands before visiting a salon for manicure or pedicure.

Ask your manicurist and pedicurist to wash her hands properly before performing the mani-pedi treatments on you.

Manicure and Pedicure Treatment at Home:

"The greatest gift that you can give yourself is a little bit of your own attention." This wonderful saying from Anthony J D'Angelo talks about how you can pay attention or care your own body on your own at home. Many people like the manicure and pedicure treatments at home and avoid going to a salon or spa so as to keep safe from the higher costs involved with the professional treatments. Though manicure and pedicure can be done at home, it is always recommended to go for a professional mani-pedi treatment done by an expert manicurist/pedicurist for the best results. An expert treatment lets you protect your feet and hands in a better way. Experts know about what to look for in case of infection in hands, fingernails, feet and toenails. However in case you want to go for the manicure and pedicure at home, you can buy a book of various salt scrub for your best knowledge and selection and collect various accessories like buffers, files, moisturizer, cuticle tools and nail polish, which can be purchased from the local cosmetic store.